No one party State intentions – Sata

Republican President Michael Sata has opened the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly with an assurance to the Zambian people that the PF Government has no intentions of turning the country into a one party State.

The president who outlined his government’s focus areas for 2014 in his speech described the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly as a Special one in many ways especially that it comes shortly after Zambia successfully co-hosted the UNWTO general assembly which he says has raised Zambia’s image, and as Zambia prepares to mark the Golden Jubilee next when the country celebrates 50 years of independence.

President Sata who was accompanied by first Lady Dr Christine Kaseba cited some of his government’s achievements in the 2-years of being in power as the positive economic performance which has seen the economy recording GDP growth of 6.8% and 7.3% in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Mr Sata says the growth was driven by transport, communication,construction,agriculture,trade and manufacturing sectors.

President Sata says the PF government’s goal is to achieve higher and sustained economic growth in order to alleviate poverty through rural development and job creation.

He says government will soon present to Parliament the 2013 national Budget to support the implementation of poverty reduction programmes.

In the area of Agriculture, President Sata said his government’s focus for 2014 will be among other things to invest in crop diversification in order to trigger economic growth.

He adds that government is committed to bring 17,000 hectares of land under irrigation by 2016, adding that 4,000 hectares is already under irrigation.

And President Sata says government is fully committed to upholding the rule of law including separation of powers among the three arms of government.

He also stated that the PF government remains committed to delivering a people driven constitution.